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Stopped by the paint shop this afternoon to check on '32 progress. None. Everything laying right where I left it, untouched. Trying to get them off dead center and finish the hood and grille shell, that's all that's left. You would think he would like to be paid for what he's already done.

Gauges for the uni showed up today. Fit pretty good. Speedo fit is excellent, gauges could be a little tighter. Problems of working with universal gauge surround. Can't wait to get the chromed dash piece back this bolts into. Should look nice in a gloss black dash!

Also started gutting the doors. Everything so far is in great shape. Amazing how nice some pieces that have been in those doors since 1962 look brand new!

Supposedly had a blaster coming over since Monday to give me a quote on blasting the inside of the box, cab, firewall and door jambs. He wanted to look at it first. Think he's lost this job. He's had 4 days to get here, hasn't even called. Guess we're hauling it 50 miles to my "regular" blaster. He's dependable.

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Call this morning from the chrome shop. Dash surround was done so I ran down to Quincy to pick it up. They did a great job on it.

I had welded 2 holes shut (probably an old tach mount) and spliced a piece in the lower section to make it straight across. I had metal worked it and they took it a step further and copper filled a couple pin holes to perfection. Put it together and stuck it in to check the fit. Couldn’t be happier with it.

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No news on the ‘32. Though they would be done this week. Getting anxious.

Been working on the unibody some. Kind of slow lately. Got the right door all stripped out so it’s a bare shell. Started on the left side today. Restoring parts as they come out. Crazy that some look brand new and the piece right next to it is rusted.

Got the center seat/arm rest widened and made a new mounting base for it. Have all the mounting holes drilled. It’s ready to go to upholstery.

Also started routing brake lines and figuring where to put clamps and mounts.

Supposed to get an infusion tomorrow. Kind of torn on if it’s a good idea or not. Might skip this one until the virus crap slows down a bit. Think spending a half a day sitting around a hospital is a bad idea right now.

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Decided to skip my infusion appointment today. Will see what the world looks like in 3 weeks. There are much sicker people up there than me and with shortages of basic PPE and the restrictions in place up there we decided to back out this time. I also think I’m safer in my garage than at a hospital right now. Things will get better.

That said, I got a lot of little things done on the unibody today. Restored the brake pedal.

Gutted the left door.

Bead blasted a bunch of engine spacers and brackets. Blasted the water pump pulley. Then etch primed those parts.

Finished the modifications to the power steering pump mounting bracket and got it in etch primer, too.

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Very short day today. A few more parts painted. Blower motor firewall cover and front fender/firewall mounting brackets are done.

Also quit putting it off and pulled the engine and transmission this evening. Split them and got the engine mounted on the new engine stand. Too big of a wimp anymore to rotate it by hand, this stand has a crank to make it rotate. Getting lazy.

Been soaking the emergency brake assembly every day with PB Blaster and tapping on it with a little hammer. It was rusted solid. After 3 days it broke loose last night and after flushing it today with more PB it works like a new one. Cable looks new, all the rust was in the interior piece that bolted to the dash and inside of the firewall.

Next up is filling the remaining holes in the firewall. Also need to pull the engine apart to order rings and bearings.

Tomorrow I'm contacting upholstery and paint to try to get the '32 off dead center. Really want it back home and get it together, weather is getting nice here, will need to do the little details and start driving it!

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‘32 updates! Upholstery should be done Wednesday or Thursday. Just a few details to finish up on and it will be done. Paint should be done a week after that. Said things had slowed down a bit and he would get it back in the rotation so it got done.

On the unibody I got all the remaining holes filled in the firewall today. Filled 42 holes in total. Also worked the pinch weld at the firewall/cowl junction. Poor thing had been abused in the past. Took a lot longer to fix it than I ever dreamed it would.

Time to strip the front suspension and steering back off and finish welding the front crossmember and motor mounts to finish that up.

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Always found it much easier to make new holes then to fill unused holes after the paint is on! I just weld them all up and make new holes if needed! I try to make the firewall penetration free on everything I build. Makes routing and such a pain but I like it smooth and shiny.

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Cleaning the shop tomorrow, putting all the unibody stuff back in the truck (and on the shelves around it) so I don't lose things. Clean the work bench and move the Mustang in beside the unibody.

Got the call today that the '32 upholstery is done! Headed down Saturday morning to pick it up (raining here tonight and tomorrow but not Saturday). Anxious to get it home. Hope it was worth the wait!!! Time to put it all together, sort a few issues out, finish up the wiring, a little carb work and wait for the grille shell and hood to come out of paint next week (hopefully).

Did get the unibody gas pedal and emergency brake lever/cable all restored and buttoned up today. Tomorrow they go in their little zip lock bags until it's time to put them back in the truck. Even fixed the roughed up mounting screws for the brake lever to dash mount. Also created new rubber firewall to inner fender mounts. Think the originals were past serviceable at this point.

Made some really good progress on the unibody these past 2 months. Big window cab section in, seats mounted, center seat/arm rest created and mounted, steering finished up, motor mounts in, smoothed the dash and firewall, created a new dash insert, doors adjusted, door gaps corrected, cab and doors stripped, built a gas tank, started on brake lines, several small sub-assemblies restored and ready to go in, engine and tranny on stands and ready to rebuild and fixed a lot of smaller issues I had been putting off. Time wasn't wasted waiting on the '32 to return. Was nice accomplishing something on the old project again, need to get back on it after the '32 is done and get it drivable this summer.

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Nice work Steve! Can't wait to see the 32's interior. Still waiting for my ‘32 coupe body; no rush right now though - I can't travel 2000 miles till this virus crap gets better. So I've just been cleaning my shop, building a gantry frame (to lift the body), and doing extensive research to purchase a new TIG welder, so I have been pretty productive while isolated at home. Please keep the updates coming! You've got two really neat projects going.

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It's got upholstery! Very happy with the work they did. Quick trip an hour and a half south to pick it up this morning. Got it home and took a few quick pics as we unloaded it. Will take better pics when all the little details are back together. Enjoy!

Dianne said she gave me the interior for my Birthday so guess I'll take that. Best Birthday present ever!